Transportation of pipe



NOV. 3 393%. v E PAGEL Z,@5@,39@

TRANSPORTATION OF PIPE Filed Nov. 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ;.\Q72Um,zzzasfafigrged IIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented Nov. 3,1936

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aosasoo 'rnalvsroara'rron or re poration oi Delaware ApplicationNovember id, 1932, semi No. eraser 1o iUllaims. (oi. its-eta) Myinvention relates to the transportation of pipe.

It is particularly applicable, although not limited to thetransportation (loading, shipment and unloading) in open or so-calledfgondola railw'ay cars .of corrugated metal pipe. In the transportationof metal pipe it has heretofore been the practice to assemble thelengths of pipe, on their sides or in prone position, .in piles orstacks between stakes located at intervals along each sideof the car.The lower ends of the stakes were fitted and anchored in stake pscketspermanently attached to the side walls of the can-sometimes to theinside and some-1 times to the outside thereof--and at least at the top,and sometimes between rows or tiers of pipe, opposite stakes wereinterconnected or tied together by wires or other means to prevent theirspreading and bending. The use of stakes is ex- 3 20 pensive, both inlabor and material costs, and does not lend itself to the tight clampingtogether of the constituents of theload. And, particularly when thestakes are'located inside of the car walls. (i. e. with cars havinginside stake pockets) the available space for the load is materiallyreduced. The unloading of pipes from between the stakes is slow andexpensive because, since the stakes cannot be removed until the load hasbeen reduced to a level at least not 30 much above the upper edges ofthe sides oi the car, the pipes must be individually raised above thelevel-of the stakes before they can be lowered to the ground orunloading platform. Also in the loading operation the majority-if notall of the pipes must be lifted over the tops of the stakes.

One of the objects of my invention is to reduce the labor and materialcosts incident to the trans-' portation of pipe.

Another object is to provide better bracing and more tight clampingtogether of the constituents of a load. l

Another object is to eliminate the necessity for using stakes to holdthe load upon the'car or other vehicle. n

Another object is to provide a method of loading pipe which affords morespace for the load. Another object is to provide loads of lesser heightwithout decreasing the capacity.

Another object is to provide a load which-may be more readilyflloadedand unloaded.

- Another object is to provide a method particularly suited for thetransportation ,corrugated 55 metal pipe. a K

.be secured together to term a multiple pipesub- Another object is toprovide a load and method of loading which is simple and reliable.

Another object is to provide a load and method particularly suited forso-called paved" pipe;- i. e., pipe about half of the circumference ofwhich 5 is coated with asphalt or other protective we:

terial. Z

Other objects and advantages, will hereinafter appear.

Several typicalexamples of loads of pipe and of the steps of the methodof assembling and anchoring the load upon an open or gondola" railwaycar are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to beunderstood, however, that the drawings are merely typical examples ofWhat can be done and that my invention is equally applicable to-othertypes of transportation vehicles such, for example, as trucksn I Ingeneral, my invention contemplates the use of tensioned flexible metalbinders; at least one of which encircles each unit constituting a stackof horizontally laid pipes to bind tightly together the unitconstituents, another anchors each unit to thecar or othertransportation vehicle, and still another may encircle those horizontalrows in which pipes overhang the row beneath.

In the drawings,

Fig. lis a perspective of a railway car body of the gondola type drapedwith binders-both unit encircling and "unit anchoring-ready to receiveits load of pipe, I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of .a portion of a side wall of" the carshowing how anchoring binders maybe attached to inside stake pockets ofconventional type,

Fig.3 is an enlarged view showing how anchoring binders may be attachedto the sides of a car which is not equipped with stake pockets,

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a car body in whic one load unit, consistingof smaller diameter pipe sections nestedwithin larger diameter pipesectimes, has been assembled and anchored,

Fig: 5 is atransverse section through the car showing the anchored unitofpipe in end elevation, .45

Fig. 6 showshow pipes constituting a horizon-, tal row, which overhangsthe row beneath, may

Fig. 7 is a perspective of one form of holder which may be used toretain the end overhanging pipes of Cmultiple pipe sub-units,particularly until the unit binders are applied in loading or after theunit binders are cut in unloading, and

Fig. 8 shows an arrangement for preventing relative rotation of nestedpaved" pipes.

'The car illustrated in Fig, 1 is arranged or draped with binders forthe loading of three units 'orgstacks or piles, of pipe sectionsarranged end to end according to the preferred practice of my method.The preferred binder material is fiexible, fiat, metal strap or ribbon.The seals or joints for interconnecting the ends of thetensloned-binderloops and the tools for effecting the desired tension and producing thejoints or seals may be of any approved type, severalof which are wellknown.

- In preparing the car for the reception of its load of pipe sections,as shown in Fig. l, the unit encircling binders A are laid transverselyacross the 11001 and up and over the opposite sides of h 0 1'; thelength of each being suiiicient to encircle or loop the completed unitand provide suihcient excess for the overlapping required in theproduction of the joint to render the loop permanent after it has beendrawn tight. Inasmuch as I have found that one such binder, of say 2" x.050" steel strapi located approximately midway of the length of eachunit is sufficient for ordinary, sizes and lengths of pipe sectionsunderusual conditions, and the caris assumed to-be loaded with three units,three encircling binders A are shown. The unit encircling binders areflanked on each side by anchoring binders B.

Each anchoring binder, which for convenience may consist of two: lengthsor sections, has its opposite ends firmly attached to sociated unit. Thetwo sections forming-each car and over the associated unit of pipesections I top' of the unit, and after being subjectedcto' the.

to the point. of attachment at the other side of the car, withsuflicient excessto enable the free ends to be overlapped, preferably atthe top of the unit; for the production of the necessary jointtherebetween. These anchoring binders are draped from their pointsofattachment up and over-the sides of the car. the unit is-assembled thefree ends of each anchoring binder are brought together, preferably ator near the requisite tension the ends are ioined I have found that onesuch anchoring-binder, of say 2" x .050 'steel strap, located on eachside of the encircling binder about midway therefrom to the end is'suflicient for ordinary sizes and lengths of pipe sections under usualconditions. Consequently, since thecar is assumed-to be loaded withthree units, six anchoring binders Bzare shown. 01' course, it is tobeunderstood that the number of encircling and anchoring binders may bevaried as'different sizes, weights and lengths of pipe sections and moreor less severe conditions in transit may require or seem to makedesirable.

The car chosen for-illustration is provided with inside stake pockets ofa commonly encountered type. Cars so equipp d are ordinarily to bepreferred tothose havinzoutside pockets as'they "are wider. Fig. 2 showshow the opposite ends f-anchoring binders may be easily'attached to suchstate pockets. Thus at each of the opposite pockets, which comprises aball 3 pivotally attached'to and between'a pair of hinge plates 6 whichare bolted or otherwise fastened to the car.

side walL-the fixed end of an encircling-binder is loo about the bailand made secure thereto by fol the end back upon and uniting it to the.body of strap by asuitable'ioint 1.

Fig. 3, showing a section through the side wall e car on oppo-- 55" sitesides of the space to be occupied by the asheight or weight, etc. do notof a car, illustrates how the ends of anchoring binders may be attachedthereto in the event the car is not equipped with stake pockets. Undersuch conditions a small slot'or opening 8 may be made through thecanwall immediately below the usual edge or. border iron 9. Of course,such open- 'ings should be provided in pairs along opposite side wallsof the car, each pair receiving the fixed end of an anchoring-bindersection. Each fixed end of a binder section is passed through its-proper car side wall opening 8 and about the edge iron 9 to' form aloop and-then laid back upon and unitedtothe body .of the strap by asuitable joint i0. I

After the car has thus been prepared or draped-either partlyorwholly--for the reception of its load, the pipe sections constitutingone stack or unit are piled upon and above the car fioor in horizontalrows. In those rows within the side walls of the car the pipe sectionsshould ,preferably be laid in such a way that they fill as completely aspossible the available space transversely of the car so that up to thelevel where the car side walls afford lateral support the pipes are moreor less wedged in. Thus below the level stituting a unit may be pileddirectly above each other (as shown in the drawings) or the sections ofupper rows may be located in the valleys or gaps between pipesconstituting lower row or both conditions may obtain,- depending theunit and the. relation of the diameters to the width of the car. Thus,in the'complete unit illustrated in the drawings the pipe sectionswithin the car side walls and, as shown, when the sections of an upperrow rest directly above "and-upon the sections-of a lower row, each rowsubstantially fills the car from side to side.

.The pipe sections constituting the row F imof the top edge of the carthe pipe sections con:

the adjacent ing upon the diameters of the sectionsco'nst'itutconstituting the three lower rows'C, -D andE are.

mediately above row E nest in the valleys -between the sectionsconstituting row E. If the desired number'of sections constituting eachunit .is sufficiently small, each subsequent row to thetop of the loadmay be arranged with its sections fitting and wedging into the valleysformed between adjacent sections of the preceding ro'w. In this mannereach unit will assume above the sides of the cans. triangular shapedcross section, each row containing one less pipe than the rowim-'mediately below until finally, if limitations of prevent, the top rowwill constitute only one pipe section.

However, when it is necessary or deemed desir able to reduce the heightof the load or the units are to contain more sections than thisarrangement will accommodate, my method lends itself admirably to theproduction oi widerunits by permitting the sections of some rows tooverhang the outside or end sections of diately therebelow. Bythe use ofsuch overhanging sub-units the load may be made generally wider, .notonly because it need not taper, ,as is the case where all ofthe sectionsof a rownest in.the.valleys of the next lower row, but it may evenoverhang the sides. and exceed the width of the car. The wider-loads-permissible because of the elimination of stakes and the abilityto overhang sections-not only reduces the relative height of the loadbut also often permits shorter'loads for equal-,or evengreater-capacity. And, since freight charges are 'governedby the lengthof car ulsed,,the shorter rows immeloads requiring less car length,decrease shipping expense.

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Figs. 4 and 5 clearly show such an arrange ment wherein the outsidesections of rows G and rhang the outside sections of rows F'and H. Inorder thus to' permit the overhang of the outside or end sections ofvertically adjacent rows the sections constituting those rows which areto overhang are bound together as sub-units, preferably as shown mostclearly, in Fig. ii. Thus the sections constituting each row which, whenloaded, will include sections overhanging the end sections of the rowimmediately therebelow are encircled individually by sub-unit binders J.I nave round that two such binders, say of x .035" steel strap, eachlocated about two feet from an end of the sub-unit are sumcient forordinary sizes and lengths of pipe sections under usual conditions.

Such a sub-unit may be assembled as the loading progresses by nestingthe sections thereof,

except the two outside sections, in the valleys between sections of theimmediately preceding or -lower row. After this is done the-two outsidesections it and it are raised into place in alignment with theintermediate sections and there held by hand or a hoisting crane untilthe sub-unit'binders have been looped thereabout and the loops madepermanent by joining or sealing together the overlapping ends. Thesesub-unit binders ordinarily should not be subjected to sumcient tensionto prevent them from being depressed into the valleys between the pipesections when the sections of the next higher row are laid in those.valleys. Ordinarily such tightness or'tension as may be produced by handwithout the use of tools is sumcient for these sub-unit binders.

Under such tension they will not prevent the sections of the succeedingrow from tightly wedging or nesting into the valleys between thesections of the lower row and that wedging action, by forcing thebinders into the valleys, will render them sufficiently taut firmly toclamp or bind together the constituents of the sub-unit.

Instead of manually or by a crane holding the outside overhangingsections in alignment with the intermediate nested sections until thesub- "unit binders are placed, it is possibletcf use rather stiff metalclips or staples ill, shown in detail in Fig. '7, which may be appliedclothespin fashion over the adjacent edges of the outside pipe and thenearest, nested pipe in the same row, as shown in Fig. 6. Such clipswill hold the outside overhanging pipe sections in proper position untilsub-unit binders are applied during the loading operation or' after theysub-unit binders are cut during the unloading operation. Or, as analternative, if the restraining and binding effects of the encirclingand anchoring binders together with the weight of the sections piledabove any overhanging row are entirely adequate to hold thenext-to-the-outside sections in placeagainst the displacing tendenciesof overhanging sections supported by or suspended therefrom, thesub-unit binders may be dispensed with and such clips, or otherappropriate means, alone may be utilized not only tem porarily to anchorthe overhanging sections to the adjacent inner sections in the samehorizontal row but also to assist in retaining the overhangingsectionsin place during transit.

After a unit of the desired size is assembled the free ends of theencircling binders A. are brought together to form a closed loop aboutthe unit; by appropriate tensioning equipment the partially encirclinganchor loop permanent. A

like'procedure is followed for the remaining units constituting thedesired car-load.

' It will be obvious that the preparation of loa according to my methodis simple, inexpensive as to materials required and saving in time andlabor. It .is unnecessary to lift all of the load constituents overstakes which must be substantially as high or higher than the peak ofthe load; each constituent above the car side walls needs be lifted onlyso high as its location in the load requires. Unloading is equallysimple and saving of time and effort. Preparatory to unloading the unitencircling and anchoring binders are cut but, in the absence of shocksand jars of transit, each unit remains intact until the constituentsections ,are removed.

falling by the presence of the sub-unit binders and, when itbecomesnecessary to remove them,

the clips heretofore described or other appro priate expedients maybeemployed temporarily to retain such sections after the sub-unit bindersare out until the time arrives for the sections to be lifted or rolleddown from their location in 'the load. Again it is unnecessary to liftthe entire load above. the tops of stakes.

Sections of corrugated pipe of different diamnested,-smaller diametersections within those of larger diameter,--as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.The outside or larger diameter pipes constituting, in effect, the frameor skeleton of each unit are anchored together and to the car ashereinbeiore described.- The inside or smaller diameter pipes j areprevented from longitudinal shifting by the interfitting of the "hillsand valleys thereof with the valleys and hills of the outside sections.It is unusual that the shocirs and jars of transit and switching aresuiflciently severe to'produce objectionable longitudinal shiftingbetween corrugated pipe sections thus nested, even in the absence of anyspecial precaution to eliminate or restrict relative longitudinalmovement.

Fig. 8 shows one arrangement which has been found satisfactory forpreventing injury to paved" pipe sections transported in nested fashion.Paved pipe usually has half of its circumference coated inside andoutside with asphalt or other protective substance to protect the metalagainst the wearing action of sand, gravel and other abrasive materialswhich it may be called upon to convey. In transporting such pipesections the outside coated surfaces maybe separated by interposingthinstrips of scrap lumber, straw, corrugated paper and the like betweenadjacent surfaces while transportation units are being assembled andanchored, as hereinbefore described. The nested sections are arranged sothat the uncoated areas are in contact as they he one within the other.And, to prevent relative rotation occurring in transit from bringingcoated areas in contact, the nested sections in the lower contactinguncoated areas may be perforated with one or more small aligning holesand a length of soft wire or other appropriate material 20 threadedtherethrcugh. By twisting together eters may be assembled into unitsand. shipped 1' 25 overhanging sections are prevented from i the ends01! this wire an eflective key for preventing relative rotation isprovided.

Having thus illustrated and described the nature and a typicalembodiment of my inven- 5 tion, what I claim and desire tosecure byUnited States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. The method of preparing, without the use v of stakes, pipe fortransport in a vehicle which consists in, arranging pipe sections in at'least 10 one unit supported by the floor of the vehicle and comprisingpipe sections piled flatwise upon each other to a height substantially.above the upper' edges of the sides of the vehicle, binding together byan encircling tensioned flexible hinder the pipe 15 sectionsconstituting the unit, and anchoring the unit to the vehicle by anothertensioned flexible binder which partially encircles the unit and issecured to the vehicle.

. 2. The method of preparing, without the use oi stakes, pipe iortransport in a vehicle which consists in piling sections of pipeflatwise' upon each other upon the floor or the vehicle to form aloadunit extending to a substantial height above the level of the top edgesof the sides of the vehicle, encircling the unit with a tensionedflexible binder which is free from the vehicle, and securing the unitagainst movement relative to the vehicle by 'a tensioned flexibleanchoring binder which partially encircles the unit and is attached tothe vehicle,

.3. The method'oif preparing, without the use or stakes, pipe fortransport in a vehicle which consists in arranging the sections of pipelengthwise of the vehicle andhorizontally in superposed 5 rows to form aload unit extending a substantial height above the ,upper edges of thesides of the vehicle, an outside pipe section of at least one,

row overhanging an outside pipe section of the row therebelow,encircling only the row having the overhanging pipe section with atensioned flexible sub-unitbindenencircling the unit with "a tensionedflexible binder. to hold together the constituents of the unit, andanchoring the unit to the vehicle by a binder which at least partially45 encircles the unit and is secured to the vehicle.

1 4. The method of preparing a unit 01' pipe sec- :tions for shipment ina gondola car, without the use oi stakes, which, consists in placing aflexible metallic unit-encircling binder across the floor 50 and upopposite side walls or the car, anchoring to opposite sides of the carone end or each of at least two flexible metallic unit-anchoring bindersections; piling,-to"a height substantially higher than the top edges ofthe car sides, pipe 55 sections upon the flooroi' the car over theunitencircling binder draped thereacross, bringing togather the endso1.the unit-encircling binder to I I form a loop about the pile of pipesections, ten sioning the unit-encircling binder and'uniting the 60 endsto make the tensioned loop permanent,

bringing together in pairs thei'tee ends of the uniteanchoring bindersections to. term a completeunit-anchoring binder, and tensioning eachunit-anchoring binder uponthe pile of pipe secanchoring'binder. v

5. The method or preparing a unit of pipe sec;

' o5 tlons and uniting the. ends to complete each'unittions for shipmentin a gondola car, without the use or stakes, which consists in placing aflexible 7 .metallic unit-encircling binder across the floor and upopposite side walls of the car,'-anchor lng to opposite sides of the carone end or each oi at least tworlexible metallic unit-anchoring bindersections, piling,.to a height substantially 15 more topedgcsoithecaisideablpelections upon the floor of the car over the unit-encirclingbinder draped thereacross, the pipe sections being piled flatwise insuperposed horizontal rows with an outsidelpipe section of at least onerow overhancins an outside pipe section of the row there- 5 below,encircling with a tensioned flexible subunit metallic binder only therow having the overhanging pipesection, bringing together the ends ofthe unit-encircling binder to form a loop about the pile or pipesections, tensioning the unit- 10 encircling binder and uniting the endsto make the tensioned 106D permanent, bringing together in pairs thefree ends of the unit-anchoring binder sections to i'orm a completeunit-anchoring binder over the top oi. the pile of pipe sections, andtensioning the unit-anchoring'binderupon the pile of pipe sections anduniting the ends thereof. I

'6. The method 01' prep aring a unit of pipe sections'ior shipment in avehicle, without-the use of stakes which consists in piling flatwise. in

superposed horizontal rows from thefloor of the vehicle to -a heightsubstantially above the top edges of the vehicle sides, sections of pipeto form a load units an outside-pipe section of at least one row abovethe level of thetop edges 01 the sides of the vehicle overhanging anoutside pipe section of the adjacent row therebelow, anchoring suchoverhanging section to another section in .the same row, completelyencirclingv the entire unit with a tensionedflexible binder to holdtogether the constituents of the unit, and anchoring the unit tothevehicle by atensioned flexible l binder which at least partiallyencircles the unit and is secured to the vehicle. 3.5 'l. The method ofpreparing a 'unit 01' pipe sections rorshipment in a vehicle, withoutthe use of. stakes, which"consists in piling flatwise in superposedhorizontal rows from the floor of the vehicle to a height substantiallyabovethe 40 'level of the top edges of the vehicle, sections 01" pipe toform a load unit, an outside pipe section. of at least one row locatedat a level higherthan Y the top edges of the sides of the vehicleoverhanging an outside pipe -section of the adjacent row threbelow,temporarily anchoring such over- ,hanging section to another section,completely encircling only,the row having 'the overhanging pipesectionspiled in horizontallyv superposed rows to a height substantiallyabove the level so or the top edgesoi theside walls 0: the vehicle, atensioned flexible binder completely'encircling thepile of sections tosecure the same together, and a tensiohed flexible anchoring binder atleast partially encircling the pile. 01' sections and at 65 taching thesame to'the each of said binders being independent 01 the other. V 9; Aload-unit for transport in a vehicle, with-' out theuse of stakes,cornprising a plurality 01' pipe sections 'piled' together insuperposed-rows 7o to a height substantially above the level of the topedges of the side walls or thevehicle, the.

sectionsot each higher row nesting inthe valleys between sectionsconstituting the row, therebelowflandatleutonerowhigherthanthetooeflalof 76 I at least partiallyencircles the-unit and is sethe side walls of the vehicle including asection overhanging an outside section of the row therebelow, atensioned flexible sub-unit binder 'encircling and holding together thesectionsrconstituting the row including the overhanging section, and atensioned flexible binder completely encircling-the entire pile ofsections to hold together the constituents thereof, each of said bindersbeing independent of the other.

10. A load unit for transport in a vehicle, without the use of stakes,comprising aplurality of pipe sections piled together in superposed andinterfitting horizontal rows to a height substan-- tially above thelevel of the top edges of the sides of the vehicle, one of the pipesections of at least one row which is at a level above the top edges ofthe sides of the vehicle overhanging an outside section of a rowtherebelow, a ten-

